NEW ORLEANS - The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at promoting research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management, and Grainger, joined forces to help the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) get back on its feet. Following IFMA’s World Workplace 2007 Conference & Expo, the IFMA Foundation held its Volunteer Rebuild Project benefiting the NOFD. More than 130 volunteers spent the day cleaning, painting, and repairing six local fire stations damaged by Hurricane Katrina. To help kick off the project, the IFMA Foundation received immense support from Grainger, who made a $20,000 contribution to the Friends of the NOFD, a nonprofit arm of the NOFD, to help fund the Volunteer Rebuild Project.

“We are committed to ensuring a brighter future for the city of New Orleans,” said Dave Smetana, regional branch services vice president, Grainger. “Getting our local first responders back up and running is critical if we are to achieve this goal.”

“Our intentions had very humble beginnings,” said Will Rub, executive director of the IFMA Foundation. “We were merely looking for an opportunity for our attendees to do their part to help New Orleans. We never anticipated that the enthusiasm would grow to the extent that it has.”

For more information, visit www.ifmafoundation.org.

Publication date:01/07/2008